election day

fearing the worst, i got together several hours worth of snacks and water, books and toys, and headed out to vote a little after 9am this morning. when i got there i was able to park up close to the entrance (at a local high school), register without a line, and vote with only one other person in front of me. all in all we were done in about 10-15 minutes. but since i had gone through all the effort and planning to be out all morning, we went to the zoo. even though we had also gone to the zoo yesterday afternoon; because i thought that we would be trapped all morning today. i hope all of you voted too and didn't have to wait long!

the weather has been unseasonably warm - low 70s - so i have felt the need to be outside with maddie as much as possible. yesterday, madelyn insisted on wearing her sun glasses almost the entire time we were at the zoo - even inside the exhibits! but today, she got over the novelty on the car ride over and we didn't even bring them in.

since we had just been to the zoo yesterday, we went to the bird sanctuary/aviary today because that is an exhibit we don't normally hit. it is not on the main loop through the zoo and madelyn hasn't really been that in to it when we have gone over there in the past. which has always surprised me since she really likes birds otherwise and is always pointing them out. for some reason she really got into the exhibit today! she was pointing out all the birds flying around and trying to pet the ducks. she would get really close, but when she reached out to one it opened its bill and made a noise that got her to take a few steps back. it wasn't enough to keep her from getting close again, but she didn't reach out her hand. (she carried that yellow leaf we picked up outside through the entire exhibit).

madelyn we a bit of a grump over the weekend, but by monday afternoon she seemed to have it out of her system and we have had so much fun the past two days. she has been so silly and hyper after dinner and it has been a great way to end the day. somehow it helps me not feel quite so worn out when she ends her day happy.

now hopefully i will resist the urge to stay up all night and see how all the states turn out (not like all the networks won't call the whole election within the next few hours anyway). momma needs her sleep or nothing that should get done does. love.

side note: i have the video monitor on while i blog so that i know when it is time for

me to break for goodnight kisses. poor matt is reading the book madelyn has picked for tonight - a lift the flap book on states that we got at the dollar store. she loves these books and i bought one on states and presidents for future use (she also has shapes, colors, and first words). right now he is reading state capitals, state birds, and state flowers as a bedtime story! maybe all the election coverage inspired the choice...